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UB2020 becomes a SUNY bill for 2010
January 5, 2010

For the third year in a row, UB2020 regulatory relief has been agreed upon in our annual Regional Agenda as Buffalo Niagara’s top state priority – and as we enter January, I want to fill you in on updated and upgraded Albany strategy for 2010, and hope that you’ll continue with us in aggressively forwarding UB2020.

First, language in the UB2020 legislation that passed the State Senate last year has been expanded to allow the entire SUNY system to have the tuition and strategic partnership flexibility UB has been seeking. In addition, under the revised provisions CUNY schools in New York City will have their own tuition flexibility by program. With the original UB2020 regulatory reform legislation affecting only Buffalo Niagara – even with the enormous impact it has for the 2nd poorest city in the nation – there was little incentive for legislators outside our region to support it. We believe this year’s revised approach, and the economic opportunities it adds for other metros both upstate and downstate, can generate far more support statewide.

In addition – and perhaps most importantly given the state’s fiscal crisis – the SUNY legislation(as was the legislation for UB only) is budget neutral. Sure, over the next decade, there will be plenty of opportunities for public investment related to UB2020 and similar institutions throughout the state – but the flexibility in tuition and private sector partnerships for schools in the SUNY system will enable the program to take leaps and bounds forward starting now.

Again, passage of these reforms will allow UB2020 to spark an economic resurgence urgently needed in Buffalo Niagara by enabling the campuses to hire new faculty and staff, and implement much-needed efficiencies and flexibilities into everyday operations that most other states enjoy throughout the country. This proposal will lead to job creation in our region, a bigger and better skilled workforce, the proliferation of new research and development, and an infusion of new capital investment.
 
Whether you’ve been engaged in UB2020 advocacy or not, I encourage you to join in by sending an e-mail to Governor Paterson letting him know of your support. Our goal is to see the SUNY proposal included in the governor’s state budget, and we will be working collaboratively with business organizations around affected SUNY and CUNY institutions across the state toward that end. Your support – and the support of the Buffalo Niagara business community as a whole – over the next few months will be vital to the advocacy effort.

Andrew J. Rudnick